Hi everyone,

I’m just getting started in the world of selfhosting and wanted some advice.

I’m currently using a 2015 MacBook Pro (i7 with 16gb of RAM) running Sonoma as a small Jellyfin Server. I’ve got an externally powered 4TB HDD connected for media storage. It’s been going fine, and I use it to access Jellyfin on several devices across my house, I don’t have remote access set up.

I’m planning to move home in the next year and I’m thinking about long-term solutions which will allow me to self host more than just Jellyfin, so I wanted some advice. I have some experience using Linux on laptops, and I can troubleshoot networking stuff using ChatGPT. I don’t work in IT/ software but I’m a decent end-user.

Here’s what I’d like to self-host: More robust Jellyfin setup - I’d like access to my media outside of my home, so probably using tailscale or similar. An NAS with a cloud storage solution which will eventually allow me to move away from iCloud. Home security server - a small setup, I’m thinking 2 ip cameras and easy access to footage on my phone. I want to ditch ring for multiple reasons / don’t want to rely on a subscription service. A pi-hole to block adds across my home network.

Moving home is going to be expensive so I’m not trying to spend a tonne of money. Which leads me to ask. What kind of setup would you guys recommend I invest in? I can spend about €500-600. Ideally, I’d like to be at a point where everything I run is open source. I assume I can’t expect to scale up using my 2015 MacBook Pro? Is is possible to install something like proxmox on these machines? my other option would be a small mini pc, perhaps running proxmox. Do I need to buy a dedicated NAS in your opinion? I have 10tb in external hdds that could serve as a makeshift setup.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

  • puck@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
    1·
    4 months ago

    That’s definitely a consideration. Are minipcs less power-hungry?

    • poVoq@slrpnk.netEnglish
      21·
      4 months ago

      No they are not. If you get one with a special low power CPU they can be about the same, but that very much depends on the exact model.

        • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          4 months ago

          AFAIK that is a problem for some Macs, which need the lid open for ventilation. Check where it exhausts.

          I disagree with the above commenter though, display-off laptops are very power efficient and even have a built in UPS.